At Elias Honey, we understand the importance of finding the perfect sweetener for your favorite desserts and beverages. We might be biased, but after years of testing 100’s of recipes and alternatives, honey always comes out on top! Read on to find out why…
Not all sweeteners are created equal, and we believe that making an informed choice is essential for a healthier lifestyle. In this blog, we proudly present the remarkable benefits of using our pure honey as a natural sweetener. We will also compare honey with other sweeteners, highlighting its superior nutritional value and delve into the delightful variety of sweetness levels found in our range of honey products. Get ready to embark on a flavorful journey as we showcase why Elias Honey stands out in the sweetener landscape.
The Superiority of Honey
Honey has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener, renowned for its distinct flavour and health benefits. Unlike refined sugar, honey is packed with essential nutrients, including trace vitamins and minerals, bioactive enzymes and incredible antioxidants. It offers a range of health benefits such as boosting the immune system, soothing coughs and sore throats, and promoting wound healing when used externally.
Best of all, it’s a natural product - unrefined, raw honey can be consumed right from the hive. Our liquid honeys are minimally heated to ensure all the good stuff stays. It is the only sweetener out there that naturally enhances the flavours of other natural ingredients - other sugars or substitutes simply mask the flavour, and some even leave a bad after-taste in your mouth.
Honey vs Other Sweeteners: A Visual Comparison
On its own, honey actually tastes sweeter than regular table sugar. Why? Because honey actually contains 2 types of sugar molecules, both of which are easily recognized and digested by the human body!
To better understand the conversion from sugar to honey, refer to our accompanying graphic that showcases the appropriate measurements when substituting honey in your favourite recipes. With this visual aid, you can confidently incorporate the goodness of honey into your culinary creations while enjoying its health benefits.
What Makes Honey Better?
When it comes to sweetening our food and beverages, choosing the right sweetener is crucial for our well-being. In fact, studies have shown that using a sugar substitute such as Stevia or Erythritol can actually cause you to crave more sweets! This is because the human body doesn’t recognize these chemically-derived compounds, and simply doesn’t know how to deal with them. That’s why a natural sweetener, like honey, is usually the best option! But let’s dig a bit deeper…
- Refined Sugar: Refined sugar is usually the most common choice because of taste, availability and price. But, it lacks essential nutrients and is associated with health issues like obesity and diabetes. In contrast, honey provides natural sugars along with vital nutrients, making it a healthier alternative.
- Artificial Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners, despite being low in calories, have their own concerns. Studies suggest that they can disrupt our gut microbiome and potentially lead to weight gain. On the other hand, honey, being a natural sweetener is easily digested by the body, and is actually probiotic, meaning it enhances your natural gut microbiome, rather than disturbing it.
- Agave Nectar: Marketed as a natural sweetener, agave nectar undergoes extensive processing and contains high levels of fructose. In comparison, honey maintains its natural composition, providing a more balanced and nutritious choice.
- High Fructose Corn Syrup: This has become a staple in many households - it is cheap and formulated by food chemists to hit every “sweet” receptor in your body. Itcan be flavoured to mimic honey, maple syrup or any other liquid sweetener. Don’t be fooled though - consuming HFCS or any other chemically-derived, syrups can spike your blood sugar and actually become addictive! That’s not what we want! Honey, by contrast is natural, unrefined, calorie dense, and simply just a better alternative - best of all, you’ll end up using less, and restocking less often because your body will love the type of sweetness honey has to offer!
Our Top Picks: Summer Dessert Recipes
Now that we understand the benefits of honey as a natural sweetener, let's explore some delectable summer dessert recipes that can be enhanced with the goodness of Elias Honey. You can substitute honey for other sweeteners in these recipes to add a unique touch and enjoy the natural sweetness:
- Honey-Lemon Sorbet: Blend fresh lemon juice, water, and Elias Liquid Honey until smooth. Freeze the mixture, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a sorbet-like consistency. Serve chilled for a refreshing summer treat.
- Clover Cold Pressed Honey Popsicles: Mix Elias Clover Cold Pressed Honey with your favorite fruit puree, such as mango or strawberry. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze until solid. Enjoy these fruity and honey-infused popsicles on a hot summer day.
- Wildflower Gourmet Honey Yogurt Parfait: Layer Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and a drizzle of Elias Wildflower Gourmet Honey in a glass. Repeat the layers and top it off with a sprinkle of granola. Indulge in this nutritious and satisfying dessert.
Elias Honey offers a range of honey varieties, each with its own distinct flavor and sweetness level. Here is a quick rundown from more to less sweet:
- Liquid Honey: Offered in squeeze bottles This versatile honey is mildly sweet and perfect for drizzling over pancakes, yogurt, or toast
- Clover Cold Pressed Raw Honey: With a delicate and slightly floral flavor, this raw honey provides a balanced sweetness to recipes like salad dressings or marinades.
- Wildflower Gourmet Honey: This honey variety exhibits a richer flavor profile with hints of different blossoms. It pairs well with cheese and can elevate the taste of baked goods.
- Blueberry Cold Pressed Raw Honey: Infused with the essence of blueberry nectar, this raw, unfiltered and unprocessed honey adds a fruity twist to your desserts and beverages.
- Buckwheat Gourmet Honey: Known for its robust, almost molasses/dark caramel-ish flavor, this honey complements strong cheeses and can be used in savory dishes or dark chocolate desserts.
- Raw Organic Honey: Elias Honey also offers an organic honey option - raw, unpasteurized and unfiltered, ensuring that you can enjoy the goodness of honey without any pesticides or additives.
Note that all of our RAW honeys are carefully churned, to prevent hardening and crystallisation!
When it comes to sweetening our culinary creations, choosing a natural and nutrient-rich option like honey is always a wise decision. Elias Honey provides a range of honey varieties, each offering its unique flavor and sweetness level. By substituting other sweeteners with honey in your summer dessert recipes, you can indulge in delightful treats while reaping the health benefits of this golden liquid. Make honey your go-to sweetener and experience the natural sweetness it brings to your table.
